Speakers | 2016 Rural Policy Forum

Keynote Speaker: Don Macke

Don Macke is a Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. The Center works throughout the United States and Canada supporting research, outreach, professional development and policy work related to rural entrepreneurship. Don has over 40 years of experience in the field of community economic development. He has served on the staff of the Nebraska Legislature, the Cabinet of the Nelson Administration in Nebraska, worked as a consultant in 45 states, Canada and the Caribbean. Since joining the Center, Don and the Center team has logged over 1 million miles travelling throughout rural North America. Don leads the Center’s Entrepreneurial Communities solution area. E Communities helps regions and communities grow more prosperous economies through entrepreneur-focused economic development. E Communities is research based and field-tested resources that can be applied in a wide range of communities from rural home towns to larger metropolitan regions. Another part of Don’s work focuses on Community Development Philanthropy and America’s transfer of wealth (TOW) opportunity. The Center’s TOW team has completed over 40 studies, covering over one-half of the counties and communities across the nation. Don is a co-founder of the Nebraska Community Foundation and served as its first Executive Director. Don has a MA in Regional Economics and a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Lincoln Nebraska is Don’s home. He is married to Jenny Carver, a Pre-School Special Education Teacher and they have two sons – Sam and Eric.
Contact: don@e2mail.org

Keynote Speaker: Liz Sosa

Liz Sosa leads Public Square Communities, an organization that facilitates citizen-led community development by engaging and mobilizing four primary sectors–business, education, human services, and government.  Liz oversees business development, building strategic partnerships, and leads the organization’s housing pilot initiative.

Liz co-owns a gift shop in downtown Garden City in southwest Kansas, manages a digital sign company, and works with the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s PowerUp Movement to engage and connect 21- to 39-year-olds in rural communities throughout the state.  She also provides lobbying services to a public affairs consulting firm in Topeka and is active as a staff member for the Leadership Kansas program.

Liz is serving a second term on the Western Kansas Community Foundation board and is a former member of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission.

Liz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Leadership from Fort Hays State University.

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Speaker: Amy Armstrong, Founder of Support My Club and Next Generation Philanthropists
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: aarmstrong@supportmyclub.org
An Arizona native, Amy Armstrong is the founder of Support My Club and Next Generation Philanthropists–two non-profit organizations. In addition to her role as CEO of both, she brings leadership to both the Kiita Foundation and Armstrong Family Foundation. Armstrong is an active member of Social Venture Partners Arizona and is also a board member of Rancho Feliz Charitable Foundation. Her former board memberships include Feeding Matters and The Salvation Army. Armstrong has a B.A. degree in Communication from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a B.A. in Interior Design from The Art Institute of Colorado. After several years in the kitchen design industry in Colorado, she and her family moved back to Arizona in 2008 and became involved in philanthropy. She and her husband Patrick are parents to Emily and Taylor, and she enjoys volunteering at their school and participating in various hobbies.

Speaker: Steve Ayers, Economic Development Director, Camp Verde
Session: Tips and Ideas to Boost the Downtown Experience
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: steve.ayers@campverde.az.gov
Steve Ayers is the Economic Development Director for the Town of Camp Verde. A third generation Arizonan, Ayers grew up in Phoenix before moving to the Verde Valley in 1993. He received a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Old Dominion University. Ayers has diverse experience with business and in government. He worked as a journalist for eight years; most recently as a reporter with Verde Valley Newspapers, which he joined in 2004. Since assuming the job of Economic Development Director for the Town of Camp Verde in 2013, he’s worked with various partners to develop a “sense of place.” This asset-based economic development model focuses on the community’s rich historic and prehistoric past, agricultural heritage, scenic beauty and 18-miles of Verde River frontage.

Speaker: Suzy J. Baldwin, Government Relations Liaison, Arizona Public Service
Session: Tribal and Municipal Collaborations
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Suzy.Baldwin@aps.com
A Government Relations Liaison, Suzy J. Baldwin joined Arizona Public Service in 2011 to provide expertise regarding the National Environmental Policy Act’s environmental impact statement for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project. Baldwin has responsibilities with these APS business units: Supplier Diversity, Community Development and Flagstaff Energy Delivery and Distribution. She works with the Navajo Business Initiative to increase Navajo/Native American vendor opportunities and with APS Foundation Funds in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah for Navajo communities impacted by the Gold King Mine Spill. Prior to employment at APS, Baldwin ran her own business for 19+ years to provide professional services in business/project management, right-of-ways, energy, environmental assessments, business plan development and business start-ups, financing/loan packaging, small business law, strategic planning, pro formas, etc. In August 2016 she’ll become a strategic partner and advisor for the Four Corners Power Plant and Cholla Power Plant Managers.

Speaker: Pascal Beriloux, Ph.D., Director, Eastern Arizona Counties Organization
Session: Arizona’s Water Challenges: How Will They Impact Your Place?
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: pberlioux@easternarizonacounties.us
Before becoming Executive Director of Eastern Arizona Counties Organization, Pascal Beriloux held key leadership positions for private and public companies in the electronics and wood industries. He was a Production Manager at a particle board plant, Industrialization Manager with a furniture company, and Plant Manager for a wood/cement board plant. In 2006, he created the Arizona Forest Restoration Products business plan and was its President and CEO. He was instrumental in creating the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI). With a Ph.D. from Northcentral University, an MBA from the University of New Haven, Beriloux is also a Six Sigma Black Belt. He serves on the Governor’s Forest Health Council, is Co-Chair of 4FRI Stakeholders Group, Chair of 4FRI Planning Workgroup, a Director on Northern Arizona Wood Products Association’s board, an Executive on the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program, the White Mountain Natural Resources Working Group and the Arizona Watershed Investment Fund.

Speaker: Paul Brierley, Yuma Center for Excellence for Desert Agriculture
Session: Commercializing Rural Innovation Through the SBIR Program
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: paulbrierley@email.arizona.edu
Paul Brierley grew up on his family’s farm then earned an electrical engineering/computer science degree from University of Colorado. He spent five years in telecommunications research before returning to agriculture. After 12 years of production agriculture in southeast Arizona, Brierley served as Director of Organization at Arizona Farm Bureau. Currently, he is Executive Director of the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture, a public-private-partnership housed at University of Arizona and funded by the desert agriculture industry. Their charter is to improve all aspects of desert crop production systems and economics, and to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem around agricultural innovation. Brierley is a Flinn-Brown Fellow and Project CENTRL (Center for Rural Leadership) graduate, has been a volunteer leader in the Farm Bureau and in grassroots politics, and serves on the boards of Arizona Town Hall, Project CENTRL, Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation and the Arizona District Export Council.

Speaker: Julia Brooks, Executive Director/CEO of the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce
Session: Rural Events that Drive Tourism: Wickenburg Gold Rush Days and Rodeo
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: jbrooks@wickenburgchamber.com
Julia Brooks is a native Arizonan who represents the fifth of seven generations of her paternal heritage in Wickenburg. Her great-great grandfather, Ramon Macias, began ranching there in 1857. As Executive Director/CEO of the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce for 28 years, Brooks heads this non-profit dedicated to leadership programs, education and assistance for small businesses. Brooks was on the Canamex Task Force, is Secretary for Maricopa County Historical Society—Desert Caballeros Western Museum, a founding member of the Wickenburg Hispanic Historical Society, President of Arizona Chamber Executives, and a member of both Destination Wickenburg and the Mayor’s Transportation Task Force. The Wickenburg Chamber is one of the oldest chamber organizations in Arizona, with 525 members. It produces annual heritage events such as Gold Rush Days and Rodeo, Fiesta de Septiembre, Wickenburg Fly-In & Classic Car Show, a Bluegrass Festival, Cowboy Christmas Poets Gathering and a Parade of Lights.

Speaker: Pete Casillas
Session: Rural Events That Drive Tourism: Prickly Pear Festival
Date/Time: Friday, August 12, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: Pete.Casillas@riotinto.com
A third generation resident of Superior, Pete Casillas grew up enjoying outdoor activities in the Sonoran desert when Superior was vibrant and the Magma Mine was operative. When the mine closed in 1982, Superior withered. Casillas worked for INTEL in Mesa at the time, but moved home in 2005 to renovate and reside in the home, built in 1910, owned by his grandmother. He is active in nonprofit organizations and community rehabilitation projects. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce and the Arts League, director of Parks and Recreation, and a board member of the Optimist Club. Casillas leads a small volunteer group dubbed “The #9 Crew” to assist the elderly with yard work and home repair. He serves in leadership roles with the Chamber of Commerce and Recreational Users Group (RUG) Business Attraction and Revitalization committee (BAR). Doe is the Logistics Supervisor at Resolution Copper.

Speaker: Dave Castillo, Native Capital Access
Session: Workforce Housing
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: dcastillo@nativecapitalaccess.com
Of Nahua Indian descent, Dave Castillo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from ASU. He was appointed as CEO for Native Capital Access in 2009, where he provides technical assistance to tribal officials for use of debt financing. He also develops business opportunities to support tribal housing and community development. Castillo raised public and private sector equity and debt, established strategic partnerships, collaborated with banks, CDFIs and foundation partners to support housing and economic development financing on tribal lands. Deep insight into barriers preventing use of debt financing in Indian Country enables Castillo to assess market demand, underwrite development projects, and leverage capital. A member of the Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs, Castillo also serves on the Executive Committee of ASU’s Construction In Indian Country Center, and is a member of the Native CDFI Network Board of Directors.

Speaker: Evelyn Casuga, President for Special Projects, Central Arizona College
Consultant, ASU’s Center for the Future of Arizona
Session: Arizona’s Water Challenges: How Will They Impact Your Place?
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: evelyn.casuga@gmail.com
Evelyn Casuga serves part time as Assistant to the President for Special Projects at Central Arizona College and as a consultant to ASU’s Center for the Future of Arizona. A Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Casuga holds a Masters in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley and an undergraduate degree from UC Santa Cruz. She serves on these boards: Directors for Access Arizona, Business Development Finance Corp., Casa Grande Elementary School Employee Benefits Trust, Central Arizona College Foundation, Friends of Public Radio-KJZZ , Banner Casa Grande Regional Medical Center’s Community Advisors. She is on the advisory committee to Asian Corporate and Entrepreneur Leaders and is the Development Chair for Arizona Town Hall. Two awards Casuga received: William Lampkin Long Term Excellence in Economic Development and Economic Developer of the Year from the Arizona Association for Economic Development. Casuga and her husband, Jerry Stabley, reside in Casa Grande.

Speaker: Aaron Cooper, Director, International Sonoran Desert Alliance
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: aaron@isdanet.org
Aaron Cooper is an innovative and pioneering community development professional. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer, a former secondary school educator and a staunch advocate for rural life. A native Texan, he came to Arizona as a high school math teacher for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Tohono O’odham Nation. He is currently the Executive Director for the International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) a non-profit corporation in Ajo where he oversees the creation of a robust continuum of supportive services including: ABE/GED classes, financial skill building workshops, internships and a registered apprenticeship program. In collaboration with the local Chamber of Commerce, land management agencies and partner CVBs he continues to promote a nascent eco and cultural tourism economy in the region. When he’s not working, Aaron enjoys biking, hiking and exploring the desert with his wife, Morgana, his son Gabriel and their dog, Maggie.

Speaker: Karina Cuamea, Assistant Director, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Session: Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Karina.Cuamea@asu.edu
Karina Cuamea is an Assistant Director with the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU West. She holds a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies from the UC Santa Barbara and a M.Ed. in Higher and Postsecondary Education from ASU. Karina has over 15 years of experience in higher education outreach programs both in California and Arizona. Her passion is working with local communities and assisting them with providing resources and access to higher education. Karina serves on advisory boards in the West Valley which promote student success and retention within the field of education. Her role at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College allows her to implement and oversee programs which aim to engage students to become highly qualified teachers who inspire student success.

Speaker: Kate Dobler-Allen, Regional Director, First Things First, Navajo/Apache Regional Partnership Council
Session: Bridging Education and the Workforce for Strong Communities and Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: kdallen@azftf.gov
Kate Dobler-Allen earned a B.S. in Family and Consumer Resources from the University of Arizona in 1994 and a Certificate of Public Management from Arizona State University in 2015. She also holds an endorsement from the Infant-Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona. Dobler-Allen is currently the Regional Director of the Navajo/Apache Regional Partnership Council, an 11-member panel of volunteers responsible for financial oversight and creation of programs that support the region’s youngest children and their families. System-building is a hallmark of Dobler-Allen’s work: “…helping partners do what they already do, but do it better.” Prior to joining First Things First in March of 2008, Dobler-Allen was a Service Coordinator for the Arizona Early Intervention Program for southern Navajo County, and has a wide network of community partners. Dobler-Allen and her husband live in Pinetop, Arizona with their children, Jacob and Madison.

Speaker: Jason Donofrio, Director of Development for Taliesin
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: jdonofrio@taliesin.edu
Jason Donofrio was born and raised in Phoenix. He earned a degree in Cultural Anthropology from ASU then began a career in public advocacy, community organizing and nonprofit fundraising. Donofrio worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and nonpartisan public education and advocacy firms in Washington, D.C. and Phoenix. He ran statewide campaign initiatives in Maryland, Vermont, Colorado and Arizona; sometimes managed over 60 staff members and raised hundreds of thousands dollars in grassroots funds for causes such as: access to higher education, environmental protection, consumer rights, health care reform, government oversight and transparency, public transportation, and civic engagement. Now, as Director of Development for Taliesin, Donofrio assisted in raising $2 million dollars last year. He played an integral part in developing community partnerships with the Town of Miami and City of Globe, and continues to work closely with local residents and stakeholders to implement the Taliesin Studio Project.

Speaker: Sirena Dufault, Arizona Trail Association
Session: The Economic Impact of Arizona Trails
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: gateway@aztrail.org
Sirena Dufault works with the Gateway Communities on the Arizona National Scenic Trail–a hiking, biking and equestrian trail that stretches 800 miles from Mexico to Utah. Dufault developed a multi-faceted approach to facilitate a relationship between trail users and the 33 towns along the trail, while promoting area tourism to stimulate local economies. She is involved with public relations, business partnerships and promotion of the trail throughout the state as well as on a national level. Since 2007, she has been involved with the Arizona Trail Association, helping to build and maintain many miles of trail and has twice hiked the Arizona Trail. Dufault came to Arizona from Chicago to get a B.A. in Anthropology and Classics from the University of Arizona. She writes a blog, Sirena’s Wanderings, that explores the diverse beauty of her adopted state through hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, canyoneering and rafting.

Speaker: Ruth Ellen Elinski, Northern Arizona Director, Local First Arizona
Session: Advocacy 101
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: ruthellen@localfirstaz.com
As of July 2016, Ruth Ellen Elinski joined Local First Arizona as the Northern Arizona Director. Formerly the Executive Director for the Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y), a nonprofit that provides advocacy, child abuse prevention and community engagement, her experience is in building relationships and collaborations between partners and stakeholders. Elinski founded a leather goods manufacturing and retail sales business and moved it to Jerome in 2005 where she also co-founded the First Saturday Jerome Art Walk and served as the Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce. With a degree in Environmental Science and Management from Indiana University, Elinski was awarded the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Young Professional Award in 2012, recognized as the First Things First Champion for Children in 2015, and is a Flinn Brown Fellow. She lives in Old Town Cottonwood with her husband and two daughters.

Speaker: Chris Erickson, RN Care Manager, Valley Assistance Services
Session: Innovative Healthcare Solutions
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: c.erickson@valleyassistanceservices.org
Chris Erickson graduated from the College of Saint Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota in 1989, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Nursing. With over 25 years of experience in Neuroscience and Trauma, Erickson held positions of Diabetes Educator, Parish Nurse, and RN Care Manager/Advocate at Valley Assistance Services. She was instrumental in developing and managing a fall prevention program (SHiM®) in partnership with Green Valley Fire District and University of Arizona College of Nursing, Public Health and Center on Aging. Erickson created a wellness model– Patient Centered Care Coordination and Wellness–in partnership with United Community Health Center and A. T. Still University. Erickson also created and managed A Touch That Cares® program, a comprehensive care and medication management program, and Going Home with Care program, a post-hospital discharge program with Green Valley Hospital. Erickson holds a certificates in Parish Nursing and Fundamentals of Gerontology.

Speaker: Anthony Evans, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow for the L. William Seidman Research Institute
Session: Beyond Dollars: The Economic and Social Value of Arizona Nonprofits
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: anthony.j.evans@asu.edu
Anthony Evans is a Senior Research Fellow for the L. William Seidman Research Institute. His research and consulting interests are in public transport, sport and leisure, and entertainment marketing. Evans earned a Ph.D. in Marketing from the University of Sheffield in England. His most recent projects at the Seidman Institute include an economic evaluation of proposed changes to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, the economic impact of Super Bowl XLIX, and a benefit-cost analysis of early childhood home visiting programs in the state. While in the U.K. and Europe (prior to joining the Institute), Evans held a number of senior marketing roles in the private sector. Working within sport, children’s TV, public transport and educational software, he devised and implemented marketing strategies for such well-known brands as Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, Barney, Guinness World Records and Stagecoach UK Bus.

Speaker: Jalyn Gerlich, Navajo County Superintendent of Schools
Session: Bridging Education and the Workforce for Strong Communities
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: jalyn.gerlich@navajocountyaz.gov
Jalyn Gerlich was appointed as the Navajo County Superintendent of Schools in December 2015 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Linda Morrow. Education has been a her long time passion. She taught and supervised preschool through postsecondary over her 29-year career in Navajo County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education from the University of Wyoming and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University with credentials in Elementary, Special Education and the Principalship. She taught in Morenci, for the Show Low School District, and was an administrator in the Blue Ridge School District. For 15 years, she worked as an adjunct professor for Northern Arizona University’s statewide program for undergraduate students majoring in Elementary Education.

Speaker: Joe Goodman, Graham County Community Development Director
Session: Successful Rural Marketing
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: JGoodman@graham.az.gov
Joe Goodman earned an Associate’s degree in Business Management from Eastern Arizona College, a Bachelor’s in Business Management from University of Phoenix and is in the second semester of a Master’s degree in Management and Leadership at Western Governor’s University. Goodman served four and a half years in the Air Force as an Emergency Room Medic. Following his service, he has owned and operated two businesses with his wife, Eastern Arizona Exterminating (15 years), and Pima Taylor Freeze (11 years). He is presently in his third year as the Community Development Director for Graham County. He has also served on the Pima Town Council, the Pima School Board, and has been Chair of the Gila Valley Leadership Alumni group.

Speaker: Carrie Gustavson, Director, Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum
Session: Beyond Dollars: The Economic and Social Value of Arizona Nonprofits
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: carrie@bisbeemuseum.org
Carrie Gustavson is Director of the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum, a Smithsonian affiliate. Under her direction, the museum received state and national recognition for its award-winning interactive exhibits. Her extensive community service includes past membership on the Arizona Humanities Board of Directors and current membership on the Chiricahua Community Health Centers Board of Directors.
Prior to settling in Bisbee, Gustavson worked with and directed numerous archaeological excavations and research studies in the Middle East with a focus on the cultures that existed along the Fertile Crescent. She has earned several degrees in Near Eastern Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and Berkeley, and from the University of Toronto, as well as a graduate certificate in Museum Studies from Arizona State University.

Speaker: Belinda Hadley, Native Partnership for Housing
Session: Workforce Housing
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: belinda@npfh.org
Belinda Hadley started with Native Partnership for Housing, Inc. (NPH) in 2008 as the Loan Manager and possesses more than 25 years of experience in the lending and banking industry. Hadley is responsible for managing the NPH loan and grant assistance programs, assuring that they are aligned with NPH strategic objectives and applicable laws. She supervises the Home Purchase Center staff and assists in raising capital for the loan fund, recommends operational and policy improvements and maintains contracts with lending partners. She is also licensed in New Mexico and Arizona to originate loans for NPH. Hadley is a member of the Navajo Nation and graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s degree in Banking with an emphasis in Accounting and Finance.

Speaker: C.J. Eisenbarth Hager, Director, Healthy Community Policies for Vitalyst Health Foundation (formerly St. Luke’s Health Initiatives)
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th
Contact: chager@vitalysthealth.org
C.J. Hager is the Director of Healthy Community Policies for Vitalyst Health Foundation, an independent, non-partisan public foundation. Hager’s work centers on promoting public policies that support healthy lifestyles. Her work touches different specialties and policy areas, including urban planning, land use, transportation, urban design, housing, community development and sustainability. Hager received a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Marquette University and a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from Kansas State University. Prior to Vitalyst, Hager was a Senior Policy Analyst for Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, where she focused on education, workforce and the economy. She serves on the board of directors for Trellis, the advisory board for the PLACES Fellowship through The Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, the City of Phoenix Complete Streets Advisory Board, and the Arizona Health Improvement Plan Built Environment Strategy Work Group.

Speaker: Jeff Hays, Rural Development Coordinator for USDA Rural Development
Session: How to Access Rural Funds available From the U.S. Government
Session: Nonprofit Funders Roundtable
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th and Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Jeff.Hays@az.usda.gov
Jeff Hays is the Rural Development Coordinator for USDA Rural Development, which serves to connect Arizona’s rural communities and service providers with funding and assistance. He’s in his 32nd year of work in rural America and his experience spans all facets of community development. He has worked with USDA Rural Development in Arizona, California and Colorado. Hays served three terms as a California Governor’s appointee to the Colorado River Regional Water Quality Control Board and as a Gaming Commissioner for the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians. He also served on multiple community service boards focused on health and youth services in rural areas. He’s received numerous awards including Inland Empire’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year and Community Foundation’s Executive Director of the Year. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from CSU San Bernardino and a Bachelor’s degree in Agri-Business from Truman University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Speaker: Luis Heredia, District Director for Congressman Ruben Gallego
Session: Rural Events That Drive Tourism: Somerton Tamale Festival
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: Luis.Heredia@mail.house.gov
Luis Heredia is the District Director for Congressman Ruben Gallego. A first generation American from a Mexican immigrant farm worker family, he graduated as a Leadership Scholar from ASU with a Bachelor’s degree in History. He earned a Master’s of Public Administration from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Heredia received the Robert L. Pastor Outstanding Undergraduate Award, was named a Woodrow Wilson/Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow at Princeton University, and just completed the Flinn-Brown fellowship for the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership. Heredia also worked as a senior congressional aide to Congressman Raul Grijalva and as a public affairs director for Union Pacific Railroad’s Arizona and New Mexico operations. As the founder of ASU Alumni Association’s El Diablito chapter in Yuma, Heredia used cultural and music events to raise funds—which led to the Somerton Tamale Festival that features 44 vendors and draws over 30,000 attendees.

Speaker: Mignonne Hollis, Executive Director, Arizona Regional Economic Development Foundation
Session: Advocacy 101
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: hollism@aredf.org
Mignonne Hollis graduated from Tombstone Union High School, attended U of A, and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She supports economic development in Arizona by co-writing a weekly newspaper advice column for business owners, and is an active member of the International Economic Development council where she serves on the public policy committee. She’s on the board of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED) and serves on its government relations and rural committees. A Flinn-Brown Fellow, Hollis was appointed by the Governor to the Great Arizona Development Authority and also received the Governor’s Economic Development Award. The Arizona Commerce Authority Board includes her membership and she just accepted a position on the Arizona Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. She also serves on the board of trustees of the Canyon Vista Medical Center.

Speaker: Jill Howard Allen, Manager of Technology Commercialization for the Arizona Commerce Authority
Session: Commercializing Rural Innovation Through the SBIR Program
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: jillh@azcommerce.com
Jill Howard Allen helps startups or small businesses identify resources that assist in creating funding ready, early stage innovation. She has 20+ years of experience in marketing that includes launching Southwest.com’s corporate booking tool SWABIZ; a car and hotel booking engine, DING!; the Nuts About Southwest blog and Southwest’s corporate Facebook and Twitter accounts. In 2008 she started her own internet marketing company that focuses on small and startup companies in the Valley. She also launched an e-commerce website for a local company, and is now responsible for over 50 percent of revenue, along with a social media and sustainability program. Howard Allen was involved as part of the executive team for two startup companies in Arizona that gave her the experience of all the fun, excitement, chaos, pain and tears that are part of a ‘startup life.’

Speaker: Leigh Johnson, State Parks Planner
Session: The Economic Impact of Arizona’s Trails
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: ljohnson@azstateparks.gov
Leigh Johnson is the newest planner for Arizona State Parks. She is responsible for planning and development projects. For over four years, Johnson worked for Maricopa County Parks and Recreation where she was responsible for updating park master plans and trail plans, building community partnerships and public outreach. Johnson holds two Master’s degrees, one in Urban and Regional Planning with a concentration in Land Use and the Environment and the other one in Public Administration with a concentration in Environmental Policy, Management, and Law. She is also an AICP certified planner.

Speaker: Jenna Kahl, Director of Enrollment and Outreach for ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College
Session: Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: jenna.kahl@asu.edu
With a background in education and recruitment, Jenna Kahl has implemented numerous methods to engage with and meet the needs of students and their families. As an advocate for the New American University, Kahl is driven to uphold its design aspirations by creating opportunities to support, attract and help make the ASU experience more attainable and accessible for all students. She’s created, planned and implemented a variety of programs, events, scholarship initiatives, educational conferences and residential experiences, and has put together a team with experience in academic advising, outreach, student engagement, event planning and communication to work with prospective students and future educators of all types.

Speaker: Hon. Mitchell Kalali, Magistrate for Lake Havasu City
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th
Contact: abell@courts.az.gov
Judge Mitchell Kalauli has been the Magistrate for Lake Havasu City since May 2011. A veteran, he served in the Utah Army National Guard from 1987 to 2003. His unit was deployed to Germany in 1991 in support of Desert Storm. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1997 and practiced law in Seattle 1999 to 2004. He was the Moccasin Precinct Justice of the Peace, the Chief Judge for the Kaibab Paiute Tribe and the City Magistrate for the Towns of Colorado City and Fredonia in Northern Arizona from 2004 to 2011. While serving as Tribal Judge, he operated a successful drug court for five years. Kalauli was instrumental in establishing the first rural Veterans’ Treatment Court in Arizona in 2013, and worked with the city of Kingman to establish their Veterans’ Court over the past year.

Speaker: Christine Kang, Executive Director, Valley Assistance Services
Session: Innovative Healthcare Solutions
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: c.kang@valleyassistanceservices.org
A native Tucsonan, Chris Kang has a B.S. in Business Administration from U of A. She worked in healthcare for 14 years, developing contracts, provider networks, and establishing relationships with physicians, hospitals and service providers. Since 2006, Kang has developed programs to address critical areas in senior health including: SHiM®, an evidence-based fall prevention program in collaboration with Green Valley Fire Corps and the U of A; A Touch that Cares®, a patient-centered RN program that extends health and wellness from primary care practice to home; Going Home With Care, linking care coordination, health education and medication management to seniors after their hospital stay at Green Valley Hospital. These programs had initial grant funding by the Freeport McMoran Foundation, two of which were presented at the annual American Society on Aging conferences in Washington D.C. and San Diego.

Speaker: Gary Kellogg, Retired President/CEO of the Partnership for Economic Development
Session: Tribal and Municipal Collaborations
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: garykellogg@gmail.com
Gary Kellogg was Vice President and General Manager of Vermont Electric Division, with responsibility for transmission and distribution as well as hydro and other generating facilities. His prior experience includes several district management positions (one in Lake Havasu City) for gas, telephone and electric utility operations. Kellogg serves on boards for Havasu Regional Medical Center, Lake Havasu City Marine Association, Local Workforce Development, Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce, Lake Havasu Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Local First Arizona. His community service and leadership record is vast: School to Work Programs, Arizona Coalition Tomorrow, Lake Havasu City Area Chamber of Commerce; London Bridge and Newport, Vermont Rotary Clubs; Advisory Board of Havasu Samaritan Regional Hospital; Mohave County Airport and Industrial Authority. Kellogg served as President/CEO of the Partnership for Economic Development from 2005 to June of 2016.

Speaker: Ronald Klawitter, Analyst, Salt River Project (SRP)
Session: Arizona’s Water Challenges: How Will They Impact Your Place?
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: Ronald.Klawitter@srpnet.com
Ron Klawitter is an Analyst in the Water Strategy group at Salt River Project (SRP) where he works on watershed protection and water resource planning projects. Before joining SRP, Klawitter worked on residential water demand modeling, water pricing, water supply planning, resource valuation techniques, and innovative funding mechanisms for watershed restoration. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from NAU and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics and Data Analytics from U of A.

Speaker: Sandy LaCava, Community Development Manager, Southwest Human Development
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: SLaCava@swhd.org
Sandy LaCava has been a resident of Arizona for over 37 years, much of that time in Tucson raising two children as a single mom. She earned a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate from Prescott College and her Master’s in Education from the U of A. LaCava worked for years in the business sector, then in education, and is presently in the nonprofit sector, as community development manager at Southwest Human Development. She works to create a more positive future for the children of Arizona because she believes children are our greatest resource! With the right care, attention and support during their earliest years, children will have success in school and in life. Educating Arizonans about this important fact is her mission.

Speaker: Kimber Lanning, Director, Local First Arizona
Session: Vision Session, Science Happens Here
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: kimber@localfirstaz.com
Kimber Lanning is Founder and Executive Director of Local First Arizona, an organization implementing innovative strategies for new models of economic development that create vibrant local economies. She’s an entrepreneur, business leader and community development specialist who works to cultivate strong self-reliant communities and inspire a higher quality of life for people across Arizona. Local First Arizona is leading the nation in implementing systems and policies to ensure a level playing field for entrepreneurial endeavors of all sizes. With nearly 3,000 business members and four statewide offices, Lanning leads a team of 17 who work on a diverse array of programs ranging from healthy local food access, entrepreneurial development in underserved communities, and rural community development–each play a part in sustainable, resilient local economies. Lanning’s passions include fostering cultural diversity and inclusion, economic resilience and responsible growth for Arizona.

Speaker: Mallory Lebovitz, Corporate Giving Specialist for APS
Session: Nonprofit Funders Roundtable
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Mallory.Lebovitz@aps.com
As the Corporate Giving Specialist for APS, Mallory Lebovitz represents the Rural and State Divisions. Prior to joining APS in November, she spent 10 years managing fundraising, advocacy and corporate relations for education, health and hunger organizations focused on serving the working poor. She holds a Master’s in Social Work and Administration from ASU and a B.A. in History and Political Science from Indiana University. She dedicates some of her free time working on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Arizona, the Phoenix Suns Charities and the Jewish Community Center. Lebotitz lives in Scottsdale with her husband Aaron and their daughter, Ava.

Speaker: Erik Lee, Executive Director North American Research Partnership
Session: Commercializing Rural Innovation Through the SBIR Program
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45
Contact: erik@naresearchpartnership.org
Erik Lee is co-editor and author of The U.S.-Mexico Border Economy in Transition (2015); State of the Border Report: A Comprehensive Analysis of the U.S.-Mexico Border Region (2013) and “Realizing the Strategic National Value of Our Trade, Tourism and Ports of Entry with Mexico” (2013). Co-editor of Latino Politics and Arizona’s Immigration Law SB 1070 (2013) and The U.S.-Mexican Border Environment: Progress and Challenges for Sustainability (2012), he was also managing editor for North America Next: A Report to President Obama on Building Sustainable Security and Competitiveness (2009). Lee holds a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from UC San Diego and a Bachelor’s degree from the U of A. His work has been featured by several media outlets, including the Associated Press, New York Times, The Economist, Fronteras: A Changing America Desk (public radio), Arizona Republic, San Diego Union-Tribune, and El Paso Times.

Speaker: John and Pam Lieberenz, Event Organizers, Duncan, Arizona
Session: Rural Events That Drive Tourism: Javelina Chase
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: johnlieberenz@gmail.com
John and Pam Lieberenz are principal organizers of the Javelina Chase Cycling Event in Duncan (pop. 800). This event has grown every year from 24 cyclists in 2014 to over 200 this past April. As participant numbers increased, “The Chase” also evolved by adding other options for area and regional riders. In 2015, races and a Bicycle Rodeo for youth were added. By the third year, the event spanned two days and hosted the Southwest Collegiate Cycling Championships. The 2016 event introduced a 5K family fun run. Bringing a cycling event to Duncan was challenging but with the help of a strong committee and support from Greenlee County and the Town of Duncan, it has been a reward, too. The Javelina Chase is becoming a major cycling event in the Southwest region and beyond.

Speaker: Don Macke, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
Session: Keynote Speaker, Developing Rural Entrepreneurship
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: don@e2mail.org
Lincoln, Nebraska is home for Don Macke, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship. The Center works throughout the U.S. and Canada supporting research, outreach, professional development and policy work related to rural entrepreneurship. He leads the Center’s Entrepreneurial Communities solution area and focuses on Community Development Philanthropy and Transfer Of Wealth (TOW). With an M.A. in Regional Economics and a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Macke has over 40 years of experience in the field of community economic development. He served on the staff of the Nebraska Legislature, the Cabinet of the Nelson Administration in Nebraska, worked as a consultant in 45 states, Canada and the Caribbean. Macke co-founded the Nebraska Community Foundation and was its first Executive Director.

Speaker: Kalman Mannis, M.Ed., STEM Education Specialist, Instructional Coach and Secondary School Science Specialist, Sequoia Charter Schools
Session: Bridging Education and the Workforce for Strong Communities
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: mrkmannis@gmail.com
Kalman Mannis is a veteran second career K-12 educator with extensive background in lab science, corporate America, and entrepreneurship. He currently works as the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) educational specialist and Secondary Science Teacher for the Sequoia Charter School Organization (21 schools, all K-12). He also worked at the Navajo County School Superintendent’s office and the Whiteriver School District (White Mountain Apache Tribe) as a STEM Specialist. As an advocate for rural education, Mannis put action to words in the mid-2000s when he started or supported several STEM programs in northeastern Arizona. He aligned several of his programs with the focus and mission of the Arizona SciTech Festival. Through partnership with the SciTech Festival, he realized the power of informal science and its positive impact on the classroom. Challenges abound in rural and remote education in Arizona, but partnerships are the key to success.

Speaker: David Martinez, III, Advocacy and Outreach Specialist, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance
Session: Advocacy 101
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: dxmartinez@firstfoodbank.org
David Martinez, III, oversees government relations for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance to secure food for clients and funding for on-going operations. Originally from Marana, and one of six children, Martinez began working at St. Mary’s in 2010 to expand child nutrition programs for at risk children. A fellow of the inaugural class of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy and the inaugural class of the Feeding America Advocacy Academy in partnership with the Congressional Management Foundation, Martinez also worked as a community organizer and state lobbyist, and served from 2007-2009 on the Arizona Board of Regents. As a first generation college student, he earned a B.A. in Secondary Education, Political Science and Journalism from the U of A and worked at the UA Office of Institutional Equity. He worked as an intern for Congressman Raul Grijalva.

Speaker: Michael McDonald, CEO, Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Session: Beyond Dollars: The Economic and Social Value of Arizona Nonprofits
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: MMcDonald@communityfoodbank.org
Prior to joining the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona as its CEO in January 2014, Michael McDonald served as the CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tucson for nearly a decade. McDonald also served in leadership roles at several other regional nonprofits, as well as at a global manufacturing start-up. With a Master’s degree in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, McDonald is an adjunct instructor at both ASU and U of A.

Speaker: Jim McPherson, Principal, McPherson and Associates
Session: Tips and Ideas to Boost the Downtown Experience
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: jmcphersoniii@gmail.com
As the principal of McPherson & Associates in Phoenix, Arizona, Jim McPherson provides consulting services in the areas of public relations, government relations, marketing communications, web/social media integration, writing/editing, strategic planning, and staff management. McPherson received his B.A. in Public Administration from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and an M.A. in Public Administration from The Ohio State University. His prior work experience includes public affairs and communications management positions with: the Flinn Foundation, AT&T Wireless, PacifiCare Health Systems, and Triad America Corp. In the community, McPherson serves as President of the Arizona Preservation Foundation, Vice President of the Arizona Heritage Alliance, Secretary of Downtown Voices Coalition, and board member of The Arizona Partnership for Immunization, Sustainable Communities Collaborative, and Evans Churchill Community Association.

Speaker: Drake Meinke, Founder, Arizona Copper Mine Museum
Session: Keynote, Energizing Entrepreneurs as Pathways to Community
Session: Prosperity and Successful Rural Marketing
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: copperartmuseum@gmail.com
Drake Meinke is your friend in “the Copper State.” He has been in the copper art and antiques business with his family for 60 years. Founder of the Arizona Copper Art Museum in Clarkdale, which opened in 2012 as an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project, Meinke’s vision identified and created an asset to Arizona. This museum was built from the bottom-up by repurposing a former school into a one-of-a-kind tourist attraction. Meinke developed all aspects of the museum from concept to completion, showcases to exhibits, acquisitions to curation and brought forth some never before seen artifacts to tell the story of copper’s role in Arizona. According to TripAdvisor, the “Story of Copper” and Meinke’s marketing catapulted the museum into the top one percent of all 3,700+ tourist attractions in Arizona.

Speaker: Kristen Merrifield, Director and CEO, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits
Session: Advocacy 101
Session: Beyond Dollars: The Economic and Social Value of Arizona Nonprofits
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: kristenm@arizonanonprofits.org
Kristen Merrifield brings 13 years of association and nonprofit expertise to her role as CEO of Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits. She’s worked at Arizona Small Business Association, ASU Foundation, and Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. After her role as President of the Arizona Society of Association Executives board and involvement with Gabriel’s Angels, she is active in: American Society of Association Executives; Young Nonprofit Professional Network; Organization for Nonprofit Executives; National Council of Nonprofits; and the Nonprofit Executives Together. Merrifield earned a B.S. in Business Management from Grand Canyon University. She’s also a graduate of the American Express Leadership Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center, the ASBA Executive Business Mentoring Program, and she earned a Certificate of Association Management from ASAE. Merrifield holds a Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation and enjoys spending time with her husband, their two boys, and her Yorkie “Snickers,” a Gabriel’s Angels therapy dog.

Speaker: Mandy Metzger, Coconino County Supervisor, District 4
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: mmetzger@coconino.az.gov
Elected in 2008, Mandy Metzger represents Coconino County’s District 4. Stretching nearly 3,000 square miles, District 4 is home to six Navajo communities, two Hopi villages, the Flagstaff Continental Country Club area and 10 other distinct communities. Metzger served two terms as chair of the Board of Supervisors and is the current president of the Arizona County Supervisors Association. She is vice-chair for the National Association of Counties Rural Action Caucus in addition other leadership positions on local, state and federal boards and commissions. Raised a Wyoming ranch, her longstanding focus on natural resources and public lands issues began when she worked on Capitol Hill as a policy advisor to Senator Malcom Wallop. Metzger’s dedication to collaboration, transparency and win/win outcomes was demonstrated after the Schultz Fire and subsequent flooding. She and fellow colleagues worked across all jurisdictional boundaries to secure effective mitigation for the affected residents.

Speaker: Fred Miller
Session: Successful Rural Marketing
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: coppercityinn@gmail.com
Fred Miller and his wife Anita are owners of the 12-year-old Copper City Inn. Miller has been involved in Bisbee’s business, cultural, and political life for 22 years, serving as the beverage manager at Cafe Roka. He is past president and board member of Save Our Stairs, the organization that hosts the Great Stair Climb, past president and co-founder of the Bisbee Bloomers (a gardening group that hosts the annual Bisbee Garden Tour), a former director of the Bisbee Chamber of Commerce and has been an active supporter of Bisbee tourism efforts. Miller is vice-chairperson of the Bisbee economic development committee, a board member of the Bisbee Community Foundation, and a five-year member of the Bisbee Daily Review/Sierra Vista Herald Reader Advisory Board.

Speaker: Tamara and Steve Morken, Owners and Brewers, THAT Brewery
Session: The Economic Impact of Arizona Trails
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: tamara@thatbrewery.com
     Tamara Morken earned a B.S. in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Western International University. For the past nine years, she worked in customer service, contract negotiation, sales, marketing development and employee event planning. She’s a board member or volunteers time for: Rim Country Friends of Tonto Natural Bridge State Park; AZT Gateway Community Advisory Board; a scholarship committee of an Arizona charity; Pink Boots Society (an educational brewery organization for women); Strategic Coach Program; Fire on the Rim Mountain Bike Race in Pine, and the Tilted Earth Festival in Cottonwood. She is a third generation Phoenix native.
     Steve Morken has a B.S. in Business from The University of Phoenix. Over 18 years, Morken’s corporate experience included inventory management, pricing, marketing, sales and new business development. He was involved in a family owned restaurant business for 12 years. He was born in Montana and moved to Arizona in 1984.
The Morkens have owned and operated a restaurant and brewery in the Rim Country since June 2004. They work to drive business to that area of Arizona. Their passion is evident in the development of outdoor activities that increase economic impact. The couple volunteers with the: AZ Craft Brewers Guild; Arizona Trail Association; Pine Strawberry Business Community; Rim Country Regional and Cottonwood Chambers of Commerce; Northern Gila County Economic Development Council (NGCEDC). They also support many local charities.

Speaker: Liza Noland, Partner and President of Ignite Brand Marketing
Session: Vision Session
Date Time: Thursday, August 11th
Contact: liza@ignitebrandmarketing.com
Liza Noland is Partner and President of Ignite Brand Marketing, a full-service ad agency known for innovative marketing initiatives like Kingman Circle–a marketing consortium that brands the Kingman community across advertising platforms around the world. Ignite Brand Marketing has done consulting for some of the most established companies in northwestern Arizona. With a focus on marketing in rural communities, and touting accolades like national recognition from Boys & Girls Club of America for the comprehensive marketing strategy implemented in Kingman in 2015, Noland mastered the craft of bringing different community pillars together to achieve great results. From healthcare to banking, and nonprofit to retail, Ignite Brand Marketing utilizes design and digital advertising techniques to provide measurable results to small businesses and organizations.

Speaker: Kathleen Norton, Johns Hopkins University Associate Faculty
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: norton1@jhu.edu
Kathleen Norton is a Johns Hopkins University associate faculty member with the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health, working as the Center’s Field Director. She started as a community-based business owner and health policy advocate on the Navajo Nation in the 1980s. She’s served as the FoodCorps Arizona Host Site Supervisor for six years, but has worked in a training and development role in Native communities for over 30 years.Norton first degree is Music Therapy; she also has a Master’s degree in Education and will complete a Master’s in Business Administration in 2016. Norton believes in the power of change that comes from a small group of dedicated individuals who invest in their communities long-term. She lives in Lakeside, Arizona, is married with three grown children. Her passion is rescuing guinea pigs and dogs.

Speaker: Suzanne Page, Vice President of Bisbee Vogue, Inc.
Session: Rural Events That Drive Tourism, Bisbee 100 Stair Climb
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: bisbee1000info@gmail.com
Suzanne Page is the Vice President of Bisbee Vogue, Inc., sponsor of the Bisbee 1000 The Great Stair Climb. Suzanne is a native of Falls Church, VA, and has lived in Bisbee for the last six years. She and her husband Rob own The Bisbee Coffee Co, Bisbee’s Table, Santiago’s, Tavolo’s and the San Ramon Hotel–all small businesses in Bisbee. Suzanne had a professional career in Human Resources, serving in management positions at Raytheon, Triumph Health Care, Sanford Health, and the YMCA. She recently presented at Congresswoman Martha McSally’s Young Women’s Leadership Conference and mentors youth in a program developed by McSally. Suzanne holds a B.S. from George Mason University and a MBA from the University of Mary. She and her husband have four children.

Speaker: Connie Pangrazi, Assistant Dean of Academics for ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education Pedagogy
Session: Grow Your Own Teacher Pipeline
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: connie.pangrazi@asu.edu
Prior to entering higher education, Connie Pangrazi taught in the public schools for more than 10 years. She then became the Director of Physical Education and Health K-12 for Edison Schools, Inc. and was responsible for program development, implementation and grant procurement for 126 schools in 22 states across the nation. In 2002, Pangrazi joined the Kinesiology faculty at Arizona State University as a lecturer. She focuses her efforts on quality teaching and learning practices with the Teachers College. In addition to her administration and teaching responsibilities, she has consulted in school districts nationwide in the area of program development and class management techniques. Pangrazi has conducted numerous presentations at both state and national levels and is active in many professional organizations.

Speaker: Casey Rooney, Economic Development Director, City of Cottonwood
Session: Rural Events That Drive Tourism, Tilted Earth Festival
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: crooney@cottonwoodaz.gov
Casey Rooney is responsible for “Cottonwood, Arizona: The Heart of Arizona Wine Country” as the Economic Development Director for the City of Cottonwood. Rooney earned a Bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and an MBA from University of La Verne (California). He also graduated from University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute and the statewide Project CENTRL leadership program. A member of several Boards of Directors, Rooney believes in partnering to share rewards: Cottonwood EDC (President), Cottonwood Old Town Association, NACOG EDC (Past Chair), Arizona Rural Development, Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (Secretary), Verde Valley Agriculture Coalition, Sustainable Economic Development Initiative, Verde Valley Arts Council. Old Town Cottonwood has become a model for creative reuse of old buildings by identifying assets and reconfiguring itself into a thriving community. The City of Cottonwood recently won the inaugural VerdeXchange-Arizona Commerce Authority 2015 Sustainable Economic Growth City of the Decade award.

Speaker: M Jenea Sanchez
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th
Contact: mjsanch1@gmail.com
M. Jenea Sanchez was born in Douglas, Arizona in 1985. After receiving a MFA from ASU in 2011, she returned to Douglas to continue her art practice and teach graphic design and photography at Cochise College and Douglas High School. Sanchez and her husband opened a coffee shop, Galiano’s Café, dedicated to healthy lifestyles and promotion of the arts. Most recently they head the organization, Border Arts Corridor (BAC), a platform for creative expression that provides the borderlands community a vibrant, experiential arts district through bi-national art walks, film festivals, workshops, performances, public dialogues and artist residencies.

Speaker: Cody Sheehy
Session: Arizona’s Water Challenges: How Will They Impact Your Place?
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: csheehy@email.arizona.edu
Filmmaker Cody Sheehy won a Rocky Mountain Emmy award for the documentary “Earthlight.” Since July 2013, he’s been the video coordinator for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the U of A where he coordinates video production teams, social media campaigns, and develops supporting websites. He produces high visibility documentary and promotional video for special projects. After earning a B.S. in science from Portland State University, he received an M.S. in Rangeland Ecology from Oregon State University. At UC Davis, Sheehy held a video and online course development position for five years where his research focused on GPS collars and GIS analysis to analyze cattle distribution and behavior. Sheehy’s career has been a unique combination of science and filmmaking. It is his passion to continue to weave science into communication packages that are effective, inspiring, and that have impact in a challenging communication environment.

Speaker: Greg Smith, Mayor, Pinetop/Lakeside
Session: Rural Policy Forum Welcome
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th
Greg Smith has been the mayor of Pinetop Lakeside since September 2014. He has worked for Empire Machinery for 17 years, responsible for their sales of CATERPILLAR construction and forestry equipment throughout all of Navajo, Apache, and Gila Counties. Mayor Smith and his wife, Sheryl, have two sons, Brett (30) and Wesley (28). Both sons live and work in the Phoenix area. Mayor Smith enjoys cattle ranching, horseback riding, and travel throughout the southwestern United States. He is a parishioner and volunteer at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Pinetop, AZ.

Speaker: Liz Sosa, Founder, Public Square Communities
Session: Keynote, Rural By Choice
Session: How to Engage Young Professionals in a Rural Setting
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. and 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: lizsosa@live.com
Liz Sosa leads Public Square Communities, an organization that facilitates citizen-led community development by engaging and mobilizing business, education, human services, and government. Sosa oversees business development, building strategic partnerships, and leads the organization’s housing pilot initiative. She also co-owns a gift shop in downtown Garden City in southwest Kansas, manages a digital sign company, and works with the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s PowerUp Movement to engage and connect 21- to 39-year-olds in rural communities throughout the state. She provides lobbying services to a public affairs consulting firm in Topeka and is active as a staff member for the Leadership Kansas program. Sosa is serving a second term on the Western Kansas Community Foundation board and is a former member of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Leadership from Fort Hays State University.

Speaker: Brian Swanton, Arizona Market President, Gorman & Company, Inc
Session: Workforce Housing
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: bswanton@gormanusa.com
ASU awarded Brian Swanton a Master’s in Public Administration, a B.S. in Urban Planning—then he taught courses in housing finance and neighborhood revitalization at his alma mater. Certified as a Housing Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council, Swanton served a three-year term as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Arizona Housing Alliance. Prior to joining Gorman in 2008, Swanton developed and facilitated affordable and mixed-income housing in public and nonprofit sectors and directed the preservation and construction of over 2,300 units of housing in 29 residential communities across Arizona. He spent eight years in the public sector, serving as the Housing Development Manager for the City of Scottsdale, and in other related positions with the City of Glendale, AZ, the Arizona Department of Housing, and the City of Quincy, Massachusetts. He is developing affordable housing in Nogales, Yuma, Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, Tucson and Albuquerque.

Speaker: John Tannous, Executive Director of the Flagstaff Arts Council and Coconino Center for the Arts
Session: Beyond Dollars: The Economic and Social Value of Arizona Nonprofits
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: jtannous@flagartscouncil.org
John “J.T.” Tannous is Executive Director of the Flagstaff Arts Council and Coconino Center for the Arts. He moved from Prescott to Flagstaff in March 2007 to assume this position, but has lived in Arizona for 30 years, working in Prescott, Tucson, Tempe, and Phoenix. In Prescott, he served as the Director of the Smoki Museum of American Indian Art & Culture, as well as with the Tsunami on the Square performing arts festival and the Prescott Area Arts & Humanities Council. John has over 20 years leadership experience in the nonprofit field, including the past 15 years in the arts. He hosted the Prescott Arts Beat radio show for three years, and was a regular writer for the Noise and Flagstaff Live. Tannous enjoys spending time with his two children and going to art exhibitions, indie music concerts, and theatrical productions.

Speaker: Richard Tollefson, Founder and President of The Phoenix Philanthropy Group
Session: Beyond Dollars: The Economic and Social Value of Arizona Nonprofits
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Contact: tollefson@phoenixphilanthropy.com
Richard Tollefson is the Founder and President of The Phoenix Philanthropy Group, an international consulting firm serving nonprofit organizations, which partners with clients to build the strategies and resources to optimize their impact on our global society. Before founding Phoenix Philanthropy in 2004, Tollefson was Vice President for Institutional Advancement at his alma mater, Thunderbird School of Global Management. With nearly 30 years of extensive fundraising, alumni relations, and advancement management experience, he has successfully guided many acclaimed educational, arts, and culture institutions, including the U of A, ASU, Master Chorale of Orange County, and The Joffrey Ballet. Tollefson was the 2015 recipient of Social Venture Partners’ highest honor, the Paul Shoemaker Leadership Award, and is the 2001 Outstanding Fundraiser of the Year by the Greater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Speaker: Dustin Welker, Planning and Community Development Director at the City of Safford
Session: Tips and Ideas to Boost the Downtown Experience
Date/Time: Thursday, August 11th, 3:15 – 4:45 p.m.
Contact: dwelker@saffordaz.gov
Dustin Welker is the Planning and Community Development Director at the City of Safford. He was raised in the Safford area and earned a B.S. in Construction Management from NAU; later an MBA. After working in Flagstaff, Welker returned home to Safford in 2007 as the City Planner and Downtown Manager. His duties include overseeing and managing planning and zoning, building safety, Safford recreation programs, the Safford Downtown Association, special events, Safford airport, and working with the City Manager in developing economic development programs and policies. Safford’s unique downtown area has been an area of focus in terms of revitalization and with the support of the city officials, the Safford Downtown Association and local leaders, it has progressed in significant ways. Downtown Safford is home to over 100 small businesses that actively promote and shape its unique character. Welker is married and has four children, ages 1 to 8.

Speaker: Nancy White, Program Director for Volunteer Services at Desert Botanical Gardens
Session: Vision Session
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th
Contact: nwhite@dbg.org
Nancy White grew up in Nogales, graduated from U of A, then lived in Ohio for 30 years. She moved back to Arizona 17 years ago. In Ohio, she was Executive Director of a Girl Scout Council and involved on the boards of many nonprofit organizations. In Phoenix, she has worked for United Way and was the Director of Fund Development for Hospice of the Valley. In her job at the Desert Botanical Garden she is responsible for recruiting, training and overseeing the activities of 800 volunteers. She is a master gardener, on the board of the Community Food Connection, a certified trainer for the National Association of Interpretation, has a passion for environmental education and has been a volunteer all her life.

Speaker: Barry Williams, Apache County School Superintendent
Session: Bridging Education and the Workforce for Strong Communities
Date/Time: Friday, August 12th, 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Contact: bwilliams@apachecountyschools.net
A fourth generation resident of Apache County, Barry Williams is the Apache County School Superintendent. He is a graduate of NAU (B.S. and M.S.), retired from the Round Valley Unified School District, taught as an associate faculty for Northland Pioneer College, served on the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges, a past president of the Springerville Rotary Club, a former member of the Springerville Town Council and the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology board of trustees. Williams and his wife Debbie have two daughters and four grandsons.